Death of England at The Dorfman

Before I comment on the acting prowess of Rafe Spall, I need to pay tribute to his vocal chords.  They are stretched to capacity in his tour de force performance as Michael in Clint Dyer and Roy Williams’s new play The Death of England at The Dorfman.  Alone on a giant St George flag, designed by Sadeysa Greenaway-Bailey and Ultz, Spall never lets up.  When not yelling, sobbing, snorting, or babbling, he takes on the raspy voice of his late father or transforms into the Jamaican mother of his best friend, Delroy. This is a 100 minute monologue that takes no prisoners.

Michael’s father, a racist East End flower seller who voted to leave the EU, has just died.  His death occurred in the pub whilst watching England’s defeat to Croatia in the 2018 World Cup.  Rather an apt way to go, seeing as how his main passion was football or at least West Ham United.  And now Michael has to confront his dad’s death as well as his feelings towards him and towards himself.  For Michael has a very strong sense of self-loathing, not helped by the antagonism from his mother, sister and dear old dad.  Except he’s not sure if his dad was ever dear, his feelings for him veering from love to hate simultaneously.  Likewise his death elicits anger and sadness in equal measure. 

Michael deals with his loss and bewilderment at what to do next, all the while trying to process his inner feelings, by going on an uncontrollable rant.  However, there are quiet moments when this up for a laugh Essex boy tones down his toxic masculinity.  Amongst the props hidden in nooks and crannies around the set are biscuits, which he hands out to audience members, getting them onside by showing he’s an alright bloke.  But we’re aware that this wild, unfiltered, troubled soul could lose it at any minute.  He keeps us all on our toes.

Clint Dyer, the playwright, also directs and he is unflinching in highlighting contemporary racism and political unrest within our current fractured nation. Luckily he also imbues the piece with some sentiment and the phone recording of the dead man’s speech to Michael is very moving. 

There are times when Death of England appears to lose its way a little. But, no matter, the magnificent Spall ensures we don’t lose ours and he keeps us engrossed until the end.